Photo courtesy the Australian Veterinary Association who believe culling flying foxes is not the answer.   Culling will only distress the animals and make things worse.  The Australian Veterinary Association believes the management of these animals is the key.

Baby Jack…A bouncing, healthy, purebred Clydesdale foal. The question now being debated all around Australia is how to live with flying foxes?  We ourselves have pondered the question and have written the following article for all who live in flying fox inhabited areas.  Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

16th July 2011 The Management Of Pteropodid Or Flying Foxes And Horses…

You are probably now asking yourself, ‘how do we live with or manage a colony of Pteropodid or flying foxes if they colonize near your horses?’   Allow us to use the Little Red Flying Fox which is extremely nomadic, as an example.  As there are many species of bats.

Although this species of flying fox is only in one place for one or two months, it is imperative you are able to manage your horses while they are there. 

Flying foxes are usually most active at dusk which is when they feed.   There is safety in numbers and a colony of about 1,000,000 isn’t affected by their normal predators when living in such large numbers.  And it has been suggested by some we learn to live with flying foxes as they are currently protected fauna in Australia.

 But let’s all remember flying foxes aren’t just here in Australia.  There are colonies of bats all around the world. 

The issue is, if the Hendra Virus is passed onto one or all of your horses, the horses, you and your vet are also at risk.  And the most important thing we all need to remember is the Hendra Virus is passed onto humans through horses.

 
People familiar with flying foxes say it is just about impossible to relocate a colony of flying foxes.  It is also very difficult to identify how many bats live together. Their numbers become more evident when they roost.

They also seem to be territorial and return to the same feeding sites.  So if you notice flying foxes in your area, chances are they will continue to return at some stage.  Planning how to manage this situation is so important before it becomes an issue for both you and your horses.

 
We at Heavy Thunder have come up with some different ways to help you manage your horses when living near Pteropodid or Flying Foxes:

•    Move your water troughs and feed dishes away from underneath trees bats roost in. This will lessen the likelihood the flying foxes will defecate (guano as the material is known) on the fly, as it were, in these receptacles
 
•    Alternatively, perhaps store these receptacles in either a shed or put a roof over them.   If these troughs feed from a tank, ensure there is a secure roof on the tank as well
 
•     If you have fruit trees, remove or relocate them
 
•    Remove or relocate “roost” trees away from your horses paddock.  This would encourage bats away from your horse’s paddock and to roost elsewhere (if allowed by legislation in your state)

•     Store your clean hay in a shed

Other things to consider are not to feed your horse food flying foxes love to eat, like food with molasses and keep horses out of paddocks with flowering trees in them.

We sincerely hope this information will help reduce the incidence of Hendra and the casualties it causes.  We believe if we could deal with these issues we would all stay healthy to enjoy each others company another day. 

Catch you all later on the track.

Cheers

Paul and Jann
P.S.  If you have any more information, suggestions or anything further to add we’d love to hear from you.  We are happy to accept constructive submissions.  The team at Heavy Thunder is genuinely concerned for all who love and deal with horses.  See you all later!